My guess is that when Vancouver, Canada bid for the 2010 Olympic Games — eight or nine years ago? — it had a reasonable expectation that snow would be on the ground at its ski venues such that skiing wouldn’t be a problem.

Talking Points Memo has published an email it got this afternoon from a long-time Senate staffer (whom it has grant anonymity). It’s enlightening but, sorry, pretty damn depressing.

Money quote:

The worst is that I can’t help but feel like the main emotion people in the caucus are feeling is relief at this turn of events. Now they have a ready excuse for not getting anything done. While I always thought we had the better ideas but the weaker messaging, it feels like somewhere along the line Members internalized a belief that we actually have weaker ideas. They’re afraid to actually implement them and face the judgement [sic] of the voters. That’s the scariest dynamic and what makes me think this will all come crashing down around us in November.